CSB - Dan Hall - Auckland FC

Highly regarded centre back Dan Hall has joined Auckland FC as their latest signing for their inaugural A-League season.

Hall, 25, arrives in Auckland from the Central Coast Mariners where he played a crucial role in the club’s treble-winning campaign last season.

He was also a member of the 2022/23 A-League winning Mariners side, so brings championship experience to the expansion club.

The Australian-born Fijian representative made his senior club debut for Western Pride in 2017. In November 2020, Central Coast Mariners signed Hall to a senior contract after he previously captained the Mariners academy.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
From the sports Field to the shearing Shed. It's the
Country Sport Breakfast with Brian Kelly on Gold Sport. Well.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
A raft of signings in the last day or two
for Auckland FC, and one of those signings is a
big name and we welcome them to the show today.
Dan Hall, the much coveted center back from Central Coast Mariners. Dan,
good morning, Congratulations.

Speaker 1 (00:23):
Good morning, good morning, Thank you mate. Pleasure to be here.

Speaker 2 (00:25):
How does it feel crossing the Tasman coming to play
for Auckland FC? Yeah?

Speaker 1 (00:30):
Man, it's Everyone's been so welcoming so far, and I've
got a chance to see the city and it's a
beautiful city and I just can't wait to get started.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
So I guess I've got to ask the obvious question.
I mean, Central Coast Mariners have won the A League
the last two years. Why did you decide to leave
and cross the Tasman to play for Auckland.

Speaker 1 (00:49):
Yeah, no, it's obviously a question a lot of people
ask me. I was very grateful for the Central Coast Mariners.
I had a great time there for six years and
for me it was just time to go on a
new adventure and challenge myself elsewhere and get comfortable being
uncomfortable is what a mentor said to me. So with
all that, speaking to Steve and Terry, you know, they

(01:12):
told me that this is a very competitive side and
we want to win things. So as I'm a winner,
that's what I want to do. So I'm just excited
to be here and get going on Thursday.

Speaker 2 (01:21):
Yeah, I imagined it would have been one or two
other offers from other league clubs. Were there.

Speaker 1 (01:27):
Yeah. Correct. I'm very humbled and grateful for all the
interest that I had from other clubs. But for me,
I think the plan that's here at Auckland and being
able to be a part of something from the ground
up is what I want to do and to help
set that culture is something very important for me. So
excited to be here.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
This is the Bill Foley, the club's owner, is new
venture into football and New Zealand. If you had a
chance to meet him, he's a pretty inspirational guy.

Speaker 1 (01:54):
Unfortunately not yet, but I'm sure our parcel Cross. Yeah, No,
very inspirational and it's very cool to have someone of
such high importance being at the head of the club.

Speaker 2 (02:06):
With the Mariners, you had a remarkable season this past season.
I mean you traveled thousands of kilometers. You're not only
played in the A League, but you also played in
the Asian Knockout Cup, which you also won, So I
mean that would have been a great experience for you too.

Speaker 1 (02:21):
Yeah, for sure. What I did at the Central Coast
Mariners with my teammates at the time was very special
and being able to see the world and play all
over Asia was something that I won't forget for a
very long time. So very good to win the whole
thing as well.

Speaker 2 (02:36):
You know what it's like to win trophy, so you'll
be bringing that secret to AUCKLANDFC. What's the secret to
making a final? What do you need to do?

Speaker 1 (02:46):
I think it starts with having good people around you,
and that's something that I really want to do and
help build a good culture at this club. And then
obviously with the great recruitment from bringing in such talented
players around me, I hope that I can learn off
them and with all that that combination hopefully leads to
winning games and winning championships.

Speaker 2 (03:06):
How did the announcement go with your teammates from the
Central Coast Mariners.

Speaker 1 (03:12):
Yeah, they're being at the clubs for six years. They
became more like family to me, so they were obviously
sad to see me go, but I wished me all
the best and they said that they wish me all
the best until I come Diverse the next season, so
it would be good to burst some of my old
teammates in the season.

Speaker 2 (03:29):
So where did football start for you? Dan?

Speaker 1 (03:34):
It's quite an interesting one. So football actually started. I
was born in Melbourne, but because of my dad's work,
we'd moved abroad to China. So when I was five,
all the foreigners football was what they played. So that's
how I start first started playing the game.

Speaker 2 (03:50):
And you're of Fiji and heritage, so you can you
can play for Fiji, I guess and internationals can't you?

Speaker 1 (03:57):
Technically yes, Fijian heritage which I'm very out of and
international call ups. I'm still at the moment just focused
on playing my best in Clubland and we'll see what
arises from playing good here.

Speaker 2 (04:09):
Do you know many of the players that you'll be
you'll be juzying up for in the Auckland life.

Speaker 1 (04:18):
I know of most of the players, haven't had the
chance to meet them yet, but I'm sure that'll come
on Thursday. And yeah, and I'm excited to meet all
my new teammates and yeah, hopefully it's a good time. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (04:32):
First training session happens tomorrow, Thursday, so you'll be looking
forward to that one, won't you.

Speaker 1 (04:37):
Yes, for sure. Obviously. I thoroughly enjoyed my off season,
but I'm missing it now, so to get back on
the ball and enjoy what i'd like best is something
that I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (04:49):
Fantesta Well, Dan, all the very very best. Great to
have you on board and all the best for the
forthcoming season.

Speaker 1 (04:54):
Yeah, thank you for having me. Really appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (04:57):
Dan Hill joining us here on gold Sport